High pressure and temperature valve

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods which provide a seal-less high temperature and pressure valve for use in many applications.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 61/577,772 filed Dec. 20, 2011.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to hose testers, more particularly tohigh pressure and temperature hose testers, and specifically to a highpressure and temperature valve used for cycling high pressure andtemperature fluids to a hose(s) for testing

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods which providea seal-less high temperature and pressure valve for use in manyapplications.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present disclosure in order that the detaileddescription of the disclosure that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by thoseskilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appendedclaims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthe disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, thateach of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and is not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe present disclosure.

http://www.interlaken.com/pressure-systems/

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/hydraulics-civil-engineering/43882-learn-about-hydraulic-intensifiers/#

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part ofthe specification in which like numerals designate like parts,illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hose tester at a low pressure state,according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hose tester at a high pressure state,according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cut away view of two high pressure and temperature valves,including operation, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of a high pressure and temperature valveaccording to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a hose test system 100 during a lowpressure cycle, as indicated by pressure waveform 180, according to anembodiment. Generally the right side of the pressure wave windowindicates which portion of the cycle the system 100 is in. System 100may include a control system 110, and a test system 150. The controlsystem 110 may be configured to control the operation of an intensifier130.

Control system 110 may include a system oil tank 112, a system pump 114,an accumulator 116, a control valve 118, and interconnecting piping 120.

System oil tank 112 may function as a storage tank for the oil/liquidused with control system 110. System pump 114 may be operatively coupledto system oil tank 112 and piping 120 to circulate oil throughout thesystem 110. System pump 114 may also function to fill accumulator 116.

Accumulator may be used to store oil to actuate intensifier 130. Systempump 114 may not be able to pump enough oil fast enough to actuateintensifier 130. Thus accumulator 116 is needed to provide the pressurecharacteristics needed for proper operation of the intensifier 130.Control valve 118 may function to direct the flow of oil to and fromintensifier 130 and accumulator 116, as well as throughout the system110.

In the low pressure embodiment shown in FIG. 1, as indicated by pressurewaveform 180, oil may flow to intensifier 130 to move piston 139 back toa non-actuated position. In this position control valve 118 may alsodirect flow of oil throughout the system 110, and to and from system oiltank 112. During this low pressure phase, accumulator 116 may also befilled to prepare for the next high pressure stage of operation.Furthermore, oil may be generally circulated throughout the system 110.

According to embodiments, test system 150 may include a test oil tank152, test pump 154, hose test assembly 156 and oil temperature controlsystem 158. Test system 150 may also include an inlet high pressurevalve 160 and an outlet high pressure valve 170.

Test oil tank 152 may function as a storage tank for the test oil/liquidused with test system 150. Test pump 154 may be operatively coupled tosystem oil tank 152 and piping to circulate test oil throughout the testsystem 150.

Oil temperature control system 158 may function to keep the temperatureof the test oil within an acceptable range. Oil temperature controlsystem 158 may include heaters and coolers as well as heat exchangersand/or any other systems to maintain the test oil in an acceptablerange.

In the low pressure embodiment of FIG. 1, test pump 154 may move oilthrough inlet valve 160 and through hose test assemblies 156. This maycause oil to go through outlet valve 170 and back to test oil tank 152.When inlet valve 160 allows oil to flow to hose test assembly 156, itmay not allow flow of oil directly back into test oil tank 152 throughpipe 242. Test assembly 156 may include manifolds with one or more hosecoupled in a test manner.

Valves 160 and 170 may be capable of operating at 700 bar and 150degrees Celsius for millions of cycles. The intensifier may be describedin more detail in co-pending and co-filed patent application entitled“HOSE TESTER INTENSIFIER,” having Ser. No. 61/577,742.

The control system 110 and test system 150 will not allow for cominglingof oil. The test system 150 may have pressures exceeding 700 bar, whilethe control system 110 may be in the range of 8 bar. Furthermore, thetest system 150 may include oil at temperatures exceeding 150 degreesCelsius, while the control system 110 may have oil reaching 50 degreesCelsius. In an embodiment, test system 150 may operate around 700 bar,and may also operate at 212, 250, and 300 degrees Fahrenheit, or anyother temperature.

In this embodiment of the low pressure portion of the cycle, system pump114 moves the piston 139 into a non-actuates position, and charges orfills accumulator 116. Valves 160 and 170 are in an “open” position,thereby allowing oil to flow through the hose test assembly 156.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a hose testing system 100, during a highpressure portion of operation. As seen generally at the right side ofthe pressure waveform 180, the pressure is generally at a high point ofoperation.

In this embodiment, control system 110 may operate in the followingmanner. Control valve 118 changes position to allow oil form theaccumulator 116 which may cause piston 139 to move.

The test system 150 will operate as follows. Inlet valve 160 and outletvalve 170 will close. Since piston 139 of intensifier 130 is movinggenerally forward (to the right in the Figure), this will cause thepressure in test assembly 156 to rise relatively rapidly. Test pump 154may continue to operate and cycle oil through inlet valve 160, back intotest oil tank 152 as shown.

Once the acceptable high pressure is achieved within test system 150,the pressure may be held relatively constant for a period of time viapiston 139. System pump 114 may then charge accumulator 116. This periodof time may typically be about 0.4 seconds, with the total cycle time ofabout 1.0 seconds. However, other pressure cycle and total cycle timesmay be used without straying from the concepts disclosed herein.

Acceptable high pressure may be from about 250-800 bar. In embodiments,the acceptable high pressure may be generally about 700 bar. It will beappreciated that this is an embodiment of pressures and temperatures,many, many other temperatures and pressures may be tested, along withmany different hoses, with test system 100.

Once an acceptable period of time has passed at the acceptable highpressure, valves 160 and 170 may open, control valve 118 may changepositions, and a low pressure portion of the cycle may start. Controlsystem 110 would then move piston 139 back to reduce pressure (to theleft in the Figure), as will opening of valves 160 and 170. The cyclemay then start over again.

Intensifier 130 may be made of carbon steel, and flash chromed to hardenand to stop abrasion. This chroming may have the added benefit ofallowing seals with the intensifier 130 to last longer, therebydecreasing maintenance time and cost. Furthermore, intensifier 130 madebe formed from a single block of carbon steel which may allow for lessfailures and thereby reduced maintenance time and cost. Yet further,intensifier 130 may be water or other liquid cooled to increase life,thereby reducing maintenance time and cost.

FIG. 3 shows a cutaway view of two valves 160, and 170, during anoperating cycle of system 100, according to an embodiment. As shownduring high pressure portion of pressure profile 180, both valves 160and 170 are not actuated. This no oil from the test tank to flow throughvalve 170, which is at the outlet of the hose test assemblies (fromFIGS. 1 and 2). The high pressure area of the system is thereforeisolated to allow pressure to increase and to be held in the highpressure area.

Also during the high pressure portion of the pressure wave 180, valve160 is not actuated, which allows oil to circulate back through valve160 to the test tank. The high pressure area of the system is thereforeisolated to allow pressure to increase and to be held in the highpressure area.

During the low pressure portion of the pressure profile 180, valves 160and 170 are actuated via control pressure. This changes the flow path ofthe oil. Valve 170 will then allow oil to flow through the test assemblyback to the test tank, and allow pressure to decrease. Valve 160 willallow oil to flow from the test tank into the test assemblies.

FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of the seal-less high pressure andtemperature valve 200. Valve 200 may include a valve piston 210, a body220, an assembly ring 250, a control biasing member 260 and returnbiasing member 270.

Body 220 may include a control portion 230 and a return portion 240.Control portion 230 may include an actuation orifice 232 capable ofreceiving actuation fluid and/or some other actuation signal to movevalve piston 210 from an unactuated to an actuated position. Asdescribed in FIG. 3, the unactuated position isolates the test tank (notshown) from the test assembly (not shown) to allow intensifier (notshown) to increase pressure in the test assembly. In the unactuatedposition, fluid may flow into inlet 242 of return portion 240, and outof test tank outlet 234 of control portion 230 of body 220.

As shown in FIG. 3, valve 160 allows fluid to return to test tank. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 3, valve 170 does not have a connection totest tank outlet 234, and test tank outlet 234 may be capped orotherwise plugged and/or not used.

In the actuated position, valve piston 210 may allow fluid to flow intoinlet 242 and out of assembly outlet 244. This may allow pressure todecrease and allow flow of fluid through the test assembly and back intotest tank.

Valve piston 210 may be biased into the unactuated position by controlbiasing member 260 and return biasing member 270. Furthermore, valvepiston 210 may include a control portion of piston 212 and returnportion of piston 214. Piston may have two portions to make assembly andmaintenance easier and more accessible.

In an embodiment, control portion 230 and return portion 240 may bebolted together. However, other methods, systems, and/or substances maybe used to bond the parts of the system together without straying fromthe spirit and scope of this disclosure. Body 220 has two portions forassembly and maintenance purposes.

Valve 200 may be precision machined so as not to use valve seals. Thismay increase the amount of pressure and temperature the valve maywithstand. This also may increase life cycle and decrease maintenancetime and cost.

Valve body 220 and valve piston 210 may be formed from D2 high qualitysteel. It will be appreciated that other material suitable for thisapplication may be used without straying from the spirit and scope ofthis disclosure.

Biasing members 260 and 270 may be formed from stainless steel toincrease the life cycle of the biasing members, thereby decreasingmaintenance time and costs.

According to embodiments, this configuration of valves 160, 170 and 200,may be able to function with fluid temperatures over 150 degreesCelsius, 700 bar of pressure, for over one million cycles of 1.0 secondsof over 700 bar pressure.

Oil may be HD 46 or any other suitable oil for this use and application.

Assembly ring 250 may be used as a seal between the two portions of body220, but is not considered a valve seal in the ordinary sense of valvesealing.

Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been describedin detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions,and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositionof matter, means, methods, and steps described in the specification. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodimentsdescribed herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps. The disclosure disclosed herein may suitablybe practiced in the absence of any element that is not specificallydisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve comprising: a valve body (220); a firstpiston (210) fixedly connected to a second piston (212) within the valvebody, the first piston and second piston disposed at opposite distalends of the valve body; a first biasing member (270) urging the firstpiston (210) closed and a second biasing member (260) simultaneouslyurging the second piston (212) open; an inlet (242) in fluidcommunication with an outlet (234) when the first piston (210) is closedand the second piston (212) is open; the second piston (212) is closedand the first piston (210) is open upon application of a fluid pressuresufficient to overcome the cumulative force of first biasing member(270) and the second biasing member (260) when the fluid pressure isapplied to the second piston (212) through a fluid inlet (232); and thefirst piston (210) when open causes a second inlet (244) to be in fluidcommunication with the inlet (242) and causes the second piston to closeoutlet (234).
 2. The valve as in claim 1, wherein first biasing member(270) comprises a spring and second biasing member (260) comprises aspring.
 3. The valve as in claim 1, wherein the second inlet (244) isnot in fluid communication with inlet (242) or with outlet (234) whenthe first piston (210) is closed.